Well, well, well. After almost 6 months in Collierville, I've come to my last week! It was a good way to finish my time here. I'll miss the people a lot, but I'm also really excited to give the people of Arkansas some heaven.

But first, last week.

We had an AWESOME last P Day in Memphis. We went to Sun Studios and Central BBQ. So a good day "Walkin' in Memphis." Sun Studio is where Elvis first recorded and has hosted and recorded other artists like BB King, Johnny Cash, Def Leppard, U2, Maroon 5, Ringo Starr... It was pretty cool. World changing stuff happened in that little room. They also had a microphone in there donated by one of the bigger artists that recorded there. Apparently it's the same one that all those OG Artists would've used. So... had to get a picture with that.

Apparently it took Elvis trying and trying to get the owner to agree to record him again, so there was a good lesson on persistence mixed in there with the good ole rock n roll that was in my head all week, too. "Rocket 88," man.

The next day, we unburied a big box from my closet full of Christmas stuff from past missionaries and decked the halls of our apartment with lights, wreaths, and like 4 mini Christmas trees. Making things festive up in there.

We then walked a few miles into the downtown for the Christmas tree lighting that was happening that evening. On the way, some members passed us and returned with burgers and fries from Sonic. Whaa? We're so spoiled here.

The Christmas Tree Lighting was good! We handed out a bunch of Light the World cards there and it started to sink in that it was Christmas time! That is, until the rest of the week was in the 60s degrees. It's been so gorgeous outside. I've barely even needed my jacket.

Friday was a definite highlight for the week. We had the opportunity to hear from Elder Robbins in the morning, who is a President of one of the Quorums of the Seventy. (In other words, a pretty big wig haha) He talked a lot about different principles that apply in and outside of missionary work and the gospel. Things like accountability, goal setting, and handling relationships with love and high expectations.

Afterwards, we got back to Collierville in time for the Collierville Christmas Parade, which was an amazing way to end my time in C-Ville. The wards had 2 floats in it: the JustServe.org one, and another for #LightTheWorld. As per parade rules, we weren't allowed to pass out cards or anything during the parade. (Not even candy, can you believe that?) BUT they didn't say anything ahout before the float. So while we were waiting to move and while other people were trying to find spots, we handed out a LOT of cards. Planting seeds.

It seemed like the whole town showed up for this parade, there were so many people. I felt more strongly than usual how much each of those people needed the gospel, and I wanted to just teach them all! But I'll leave that up to Elder Bingham and Elder Barney. :)

The next day, we were able to help the Gaars out at their new house, and tried a BBQ place I hadn't been to before. We found out the reason I hadn't been there until this right time, too. The owner was there, and when he saw my Book of Mormon on the table, he told us he had read it and the Pearl of Great Price before. Whoa! Hopefully seeing us made him think back on some of the things he had read. Planting seeds again!

Most of the rest of the day was spent making tamales with Bro. Boggs. From scratch. I had no idea it would be such a long process. But we did it, and they even tasted really good!

The Blender Blunder: in which I was removing blended peppers from a blender and went to twist/unhook the blender jar from the blender device, and instead removed the entire jar from the blender and spilled pepper sauce like a volcano eruption all over the blender. This incident was made more embarrassing by the fact that I didn't need to unlatch the jar at all, all I had to do was just pick it straight up. Thankfully, Bro. Boggs was able to find the humor in this, and didn't even tell the sister missionaries when they joined us for dinner haha. Adulting is still hard sometimes. Elder Dahl: 0, Blender: 1

Yesterday was Fast Sunday, and it was really good. Lots of awesome testimonies shared from some of my new favorite people in the world. Wendy, our like 1 and only investigator, went up and shared a beautiful testimony, almost 3 months to the day after the day she first called us. It's been so awesome to have a kind of front row seat to her progression. She's awesome! I'll miss the Collierville area and the people in it a lot!

After church, we said goodbye to a few more people. Bro. Jacobs, who just got back from a trip to China, brought Elder Bingham and I gifts back from his time there! I got a porcelain pen and a cool bookmark. There were some hard goodbyes, but I know somehow, someday, I'll make sure to see everyone again! Ideally in October for Wendy's baptism. :)

Well. I'm writing this email in the small backseat of the pickup truck hauling everybody's stuff from Memphis to Little Rock. I'm getting transferred to Conway, Arkansas, and I'll be the Jr. Companion Zone Leader there after 6 months in one area. Yikes. I'm super duper stoked out of my mind, though. My new companion is Elder Evans, who I served with in Conway as a part of that quadpanionship I was in for like 2 days a few months ago. We are gonna tear it up and have so much fun.

I'm excited to meet more of my future favorite people in the world! Arkansas here I come!!

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Serving A Mission!

What's all this about? As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it is expected of me that I will serve a two-year mission. (And yeah, the "riding bikes and wearing nametags and knocking on doors" kind of mission.) But this isn't something I'm doing because it's expected of me... I'm doing this because the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed my life SO much, in SO many ways. I can't think of a greater honor or responsibility than being able to play a part in someone's story of finding and enjoying these blessings, too.